Journal box



G. F. COUCH July 2, 1940.

JOURNAL BOX Filed Oct. 26, 1934 3 Shoots-Sheet 1 Wm 9 A July 2, 1940. COUCH 2,206,498

JOURNAL BOX Filed Oct. 26, 1954 3 mots-Sheet 2 G. F. COUC H July 2, 1940.

JOURNAL BOX Filed Oct 26, 1934 3 Shoots-Sheet 3 III II II. II

Hllllln- Patented July 2, 1940 JOURNAL BOX Glenn F. Couch, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Symington-Gould Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application October 26, 1934, Serial No;"'l50,215

9 Claims.

The invention relates to journal boxes particuconsidered, is to provide an articulated lid for a journal box, said lid comprising a cover for the access opening of said box, a spring lever connected to said cover, a spring yoke, and a spring 10 acting between said yoke and lever for pressing the cover against the box or holding it in open position. D

Another object of my invention is the provision of means for preventing the entrance of wa- 1 ter between a journal box and its associated lid, said means comprising a channel along the top and two sides of the box edge portions and a corresponding rib on the lid receivable in said channel when said lid is closed. go A further object of my invention is the provision of means for movably connecting a. spring 'lever to the associated cover of an articulated lid comprising a clip formed with a partially spherical portion fitting into a recess in the end 25 portion of the spring lever and secured to the cover for holding said end portion in nesting relation with a corresponding spherical portion on said cover.

A still further object of my ivention is the pro- 30 vision of an articulated lid for journal boxes in which a spring yoke, entirely free from the cover portion of said lid, is employed, said yoke being pivotally connected to the associated box so that the axis of the associated helical spring always 35 passes through the centerof the pivoting means, thereby avoiding any counter moment tending to lift the lid from the box face, and making it possible to apply a greater pressure to the center of the cover member with a spring of a given 40 capacity.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

45 Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended -claims Figure 1 is a partial front elevational view of a journal box looking into the access opening, and

5 a partial front elevational view of the associated articulated lid.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of thearrows.

55 Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the articulated lid detached from the box and held in position with the spring compressed so glat the lid is ready to be assembled with said x, I Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to Figure 2, but showing a cover member of the lid without a water drain flange and separated from the associated parts.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the spring clip or yoke.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-'-6 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures 7, Sand 9 are those corresponding, respectively, to Figures 1, 2 and 6, but showing another embodiment of my invention. 1 A journal box lid is for the purpose of closing the access opening to a journal box. 'The'lid of the present application combines the construction of the resilient means which, while allowingfor equalization, firmly presses the lid over the go access opening, and that of the box which receives water shedding flanges on the lid in water-drainage troughs, to complete the efflcient sealing of said box.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and first considering the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6,. inclusive, there is shown a journal box I provided on its roof or top wall 2 adjacent the forward or outer edge thereof with a hinge lug 3 apertured, as indicated at 4, to receive a hinge pin or pintle 5 for connecting the associated articulated lid, generally designated by the reference character 6, thereto. Said lug 3 is formed with angularly disposed faces I and 8 adapted to be alternately engaged by a spring lever portion 9 of said lid for maintaining the latter in either closed or open position. The lid 6 of the present embodiment comprises, in addition to the lever portion 9, the cover or closure member It! for the access opening ll of the box, the rivet or pintle l2 which connects the lower end portion of the lever 9 to the closure member I 0, the spring yoke or clip l3, and the helical spring H which acts between the yoke l3 and the upper or free end portionv of the spring lever 9 for urging the latter into engagement with the hinge lug 3.

In the present embodiment, the cover member I ll has a spherical depression IS in its outer face normally engaged by the corresponding partially spherical portion l6 adjacent the lower end of the lever 9, whereby a desired amount of equalization or adjustment between the lever and cover is permitted. The securing member l2 passes through portions of the reinforcing flanges ll of the lever I, the apertures I! in said flanges is being large enough to provide the desired clearance for allowing the equalization or adjustment previously referred to.

The spring yoke It comprises a spring seating portion 2| provided by spring positioning flanges 2i and arms 22 apertured, as indicated at 23, to receive end portions of the pivot member orhinge pintle 5. Inasmuch as the line perpendicular to the spring seating portion 2| and passing through the center thereof is the normal axis of the coil spring I and intersects the axis of the hinge pin I, said spring axis, by passing through the axis of the lid pivot avoids any counter moment tending to lift said lid from the face of the box, resulting in a more efllcient spring action and making it possible to secure a greater pressure between the lid and the box with a spring of a given capacity.

The upper or free end portion of the lever I is formed with a corresponding spring pocket 22' opening toward the spring'box of the yoke ll so that the associated spring I4 is normally seated in pockets of'the yoke and lever and prevented from displacement. As .the spring II is compressed or the pressure thereon released during the opening or closing of the lid, the normal relationship between the spring engaging faces of the yoke l3 and lever I is not materially changed because of the provision for movement of said yoke independent of the cover II and lever I.

In order to provide for pivotal movement of the cover It with respect to the box, as well as for preventing undesired displacement between said cover and the associated yoke ii, the cover II is formed with a hood portion 28 which, in the present embodiment, is integral with the upper portion of said cover. Said hood portion comprises side walls outwardly embossed, as indicated at 2|, to provide channels for receiving the outstanding apertured portions 22 of the spring yoke l3. Said hood portion also comprises a transverse web portion II which connects the side wall portions 2i, rigidifylng the construction, and limiting upward movement of the yoke it with respect to said cover.

In order to hold the spring I compressed so that the pintle receiving portions 22 of the yoke are positioned in the notched portions 21 of the hood sides 24, said sides are formed with apertures 2| which are adapted to receive pins 29 engaging reinforced portions on the yoke arms 22, thereby holding said yoke, spring, lever and cover in the position shown in Figure 3, with the spring compressed sufllciently to leave the apertured end portions 22 of the yoke extending beyond the hooded portion of the cover to receive the hinge pin 5 and facilitate assembly. After the assembled portions of the articulated lid, as shown in Figure 3, have been applied to the box, and the hinge pin 5 inserted through the apertures 28 in the yoke l3, and the aperture 4 in the hinge lug 3, the pins 22 may be removed to release the spring ll, which will then push the yoke l3 outwardly to position the ends of the pin I between the, side walls 24 of the hood 23, thereby preventing any undesired displacement of the pin without the necessity of separatepin retainers.

In order to seal the box against the entrance of water, the edge portion defining the access opening II is formed with a channel ll extending along the top and two sides of said box edge portion, said channel, in the present embodiment,

being cored, but, as will be understood, it may be outstanding lugs II on the cover II and the lower formed in some other way. The cover portion II is formed with a drip'flange or rib I2 received in said channel II when the lid is in the closed position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6. It will thus be seen that any water leaking past the upper or outer portion 33 of the box defining the channel 2| is caught on the upperor a side portion of the drip flange 32 and led into the channel 3|. from which it drains downwardly, or to'the side of the box into a side portion of the channel SI, and from thence away from the box. The portion ll of the box which defines the lower or inner side of the channel 3| desirably has an upper or flange-adjacent surface ll sloping downwardly or away from the cover It under the flange 32 to facilitate the draining of water from the box opening.

Because of the loose fit of the pivot pin or rivet l2 in the lower end portion of the lever I, and in order to avoid strain on said pivot, the hood portion 23' of the cover III is desirably formed with a pair of lugs It lying one on either side of the upper portion of the lever 2 in order to guide said lever in its movement. with respect to the cover and limit lateral displacement thereof. The spring yoke II is desirably formed with a pair of lugs 31 which normally underlie and are adapted to engage the outer flanged portion II of the hood 22', thereby-limiting outward movement of said yoke with respect to said hood.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in'Figures 7. 8 and 9, there is shown a journal box I provided onits roof or top wall 2' adjacent the forward orouter edge thereof, with a hinge lug I apertured. as in the previous embodiment, as indicated at I to receive a hinge pin or pintle i" for connecting an associated lid'thereto. The articulatedlid of the present embodiment, generally designated; by the reference character 6', comprises a lever portion 2*, a cover or closure member lll' for the access opening il of the box, a spring yoke or clip II, and helical spring means which, in the present embodiment, is shown as inner and outer springs I! and 40, which springs act between the yoke I I and the upper or free end portion of the lever l for rging t e latter into engagement with the hinge lug 3'.

In the present embodiment, the cover member Il is composite rather than formed as an integral casting, and comprises a body portion 4| formed of pressed steel and a cast hood portion 23* connected thereto by means of rivets, or the like, 42. The cover body ll is formed with a spherical depression or inward embossment I! in the outer face thereof, in which normally nests the lower corresponding spherical portion ll of the lever 2. Assembly of the lower end of the lever and cover is maintained, in the present embodiment, by a clip l2 formed with a partially spherical portion 12 fitting into the concave outer surface 44 of the lever, said clip being secured to the outer face of the cover body 4! in any desired manner, as by means of rivets 45. The area of the spherical portion 43 is such, as compared with the concave spherical portion 44 of the lever, that the desired amount of angling and equalization of said lever with respect to the cover I l is allowed for.

' The spring yoke il may correspond with that of the previous embodiment, and comprises a spring seating portion 20'. and arms 22' apertured to receive the pivot member or pintle 8", said yoke being pivoted, as in the preceding embodiment; so that the axis of the spring means intersects the axis of the hinge pin 5', for the purpose previously described.

The upper or free end portion of the lever 8 is formed with a spring pocket, as in the preceding embodiment, so that the associated springs are normally seated in pockets, of the yoke and lever and prevented from displacement.

For effecting a pivotal connection of the cover III to the box I as well as preventing undesired displacement between said cover and the yoke ll, said cover has the side walls 24* of the hood portion 23' outwardly embossed, as indicated at 25 to provide channels for receiving the outstanding apertured portions 22' of the spring yoke l3, as in the preceding embodiment. Said hood 2! also comprises a transverse connecting web portion 26 serving to limit upward movement of the yoke 13 and with a downturned outer flange portion 38 cooperating with lugs 31' on said yoke portion for limiting outward movement of said yoke portion. As in the preceding embodiment, the hood 23' is desirably provided with a pair of lugs 36} lying on opposite sides of upper portions ofthe lever 9 for guiding and limiting lateral movement thereof.

The sides 24 of the hood It are desirably apertured, as indicated at 28, for receiving pins, as in the preceding embodiment, for holding the yoke, spring, lever and cover in a position corresponding to that shown in Figure 3 in order to facilitate assembly of the articulated lid with respect to the box, as fully described in connection with the preceding embodiment.

In order to seal the box against the entrance of water, I have formed channels 3| along the upper and side edge portions of said box which define the access opening II by welding a Z-shaped strip 46 along the outer surface of said box, said lid having its peripheral portion bent towards the box to provide a drip flange 32* which is received in the channel 3| when the lid is in closed position, as shown in Figures '7, 8 and 9. Any water leaking past the member 46 which deflnes the outer side of the channel 3| is caught in said channel and on the outer surface of the box adjacent the edges defining the access opening, and drained to points at opposite sides of said box adjacent the lower surface thereof, as in the preceding embodiment. The main difference between the provision for draining water in the present embodiment and that of the preceding embodiment is that the channel is formed by welding an extra piece to the box, rather than by coring the box, and the outer flange of the lid serves as a drip flange rather than the lid being provided with a drip flange inside of the normal outer flange thereof.

Although preferred embodiments of my invention have been disclosed, it will be understood that modifications will be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. It will also be understood that a lid constructed in accordance with the first embodiment may be employed with a box of the type shown in the second embodiment, and that a lid constructed in accordance with the second embodiment may be employed with a type of box constructed in accordance with the first embodiment.

I claim: I

1. In combination with a journal box having an access opening and a hinge lug,- an articulated lid comprising a cover for said opening, a spring lever, means movably connecting said cover and lever, a spring yoke, means pivotally connecting said yoke and lug for v swinging of said yoke about said lug independent of cover movement. and a spring acting between said yoke and lever for pressing said cover over said opening, said cover having a hood partially housing said yoke, and formed with grooves in side walls thereof, said yoke having outstanding trunnion portions slidable in said grooves and lug means provided on said yoke adapted to engage said hood for limiting relative movement therebetween.

2. In combination with a journal box having an access opening and a hinge lug, an articulated 11d comprising a cover for said opening, a spring lever, the lower end portion of said lever being formed with a convex spherical portion normally directly engaging a corresponding concave spherical surface of said cover and presenting an outwardly opening concave spherical pocket, a clip connected to said cover and formed with a convex spherical portion engaging the concave spherical surface in the pocket portion of said lever, for holding said lever assembled with the cover, a

spring yoke, means pivotally connecting said yoke and lug, and a spring acting between said yoke and lever for pressing said cover over said, open- 3. In combination with a journal box having an access openingand a hinge lug, an articulated lid-comprising a cover for said opening," a spring lever, means movably connecting said cover and lever, aspring'yoke, means pivotally connecting said yoke and lug, and a spring acting between said yoke and lever for pressing said cover over said opening, said cover comprising a pressed steel body portion and a cast steel hood portion riveted thereto and partially housing said yoke.

4. An articulated lid comprising a cover portion adapted to close the outer opening of an associated journal box, a generally U-shaped spring yoke with arms adapted to be pivotally connected to said box, said yoke being movably mounted with respect to said lug and cover, and a lever movably mounted with respect to said cover and having an upper end portion embraced by said yoke arms and adapted to engage a hinge lug of said box, the upper end portion of said lever and the portion of said yoke between said arms being formed with spring seating portions normally oppositely disposed, a helical spring with its axis normally passing through the axis of the pivotal means, engaging said seating portions, and acting on the lever to urge said upper end portion away from said yoke so that it will normally engage said hinge lug and hold the lid in open or closed position, and a lug on said yoke adapted to engage said cover for limiting the relative movement therebetween.

5. In combination, a journal box having an access opening, an articulated lid connected to said box for covering said opening, said box having its roof upper surface normally horizontal so that water would tend to run therefrom under said lid, and a separately formed plate secured to the outer surface of said box along the upper v and side walls thereof adjacent the edges defining said opening and forming a channel opening toward said lid, said lid having a flange receivable in said channel when closing the opening with sufficient clearance therebetween to allow for the 7. In combination with a journal box having an access opening and a hinge lug, an articulated lid connected to said lug for cloflng said opening 16 comprising a cover, a lever having a lower portion connected to said cover adjacent the central portion thereof so as to allow a desired angling and equalization therebetween, a yoke memberpivotally connected to said lug and movable rel- 20 ative to said lever and cover, a coil spring seated in said yoke reacting against the top portion or the lever for releasably maintaining said cover over said access opening, and a hood on said cover overlying and partially housing said yoke.

25 8. In combination with a Journal box'having an access opening and a hinge lug, an articulated lid pivotally connected to said lug for closing said opening, said lid comprising a cover portion, a lever pivotally connected to said cover adjacent its central portion. a yoke member pivotally connected to said lug and movable relative to said cover, a coil spring seated in said yoke reacting against said lever for releasably maintaining the cover in contact with the marginal edges of the access opening, a hood on said cover partially housing the yoke, and means on said yoke adapted to engage said hood for limiting relative movement therebetween.

9. In combination with a Journal box having an access opening and a hinge lug, an articulated lid comprising a cover portion adapted to close said access opening, .a lever having a lower end portion formed with a convex spherical portion engaging a complementary concave pocket in the cover adjacent its central. portion, means connecting the lever and cover for retaining the convex portion of the vlever within the concave portion of the cover, a yoke member pivotally connected to said lug and movable relative to said cover, and a coil spring acting between the yoke and top portion of thelever for urging the cover'over said access opening. I

GLENN F. COUCH. 

